Thirty-Three-Year Follow-up Following Silicone Scaphoid Arthroplasty: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomaterials science
• Wrist biomechanics

Background:

• Silicone scaphoid arthroplasty was historically used for scaphoid nonunion.
• Long-term outcomes and complications of these implants are not well-documented.
• This case presents a unique 33-year follow-up of a silicone scaphoid implant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the 33-year clinical and radiographic outcome of a silicone scaphoid arthroplasty.
• To discuss the long-term implications of silicone implant arthroplasty in the wrist.
• To highlight a rare case of sustained function despite implant degradation.

Main Methods:

• A 64-year-old male patient with a 33-year history of silicone scaphoid arthroplasty was evaluated.
• Radiographic assessment revealed implant deformity, carpal and distal radius cysts, and carpal collapse.
• The patient underwent wrist arthrodesis after conservative management failed.

Main Results:

• The patient experienced 30 years of pain-free function following the initial silicone arthroplasty.
• Despite implant deformation and associated carpal pathology, functional recovery was maintained for decades.
• Serial examinations and radiographs documented the long-term course without intervention.

Conclusions:

• Silicone scaphoid arthroplasties, though largely abandoned, can potentially offer long-term functional benefits.
• This case demonstrates an exceptionally prolonged period of positive outcome despite known implant limitations.
• Late complications such as implant deformity and cyst formation may occur but do not always preclude extended functional use.